Topic #1: Origins of the Cold War

Essential Question: How did the Allies rebuild Europe after WWII?

Yalta Conference

Who: Big Three: Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt

Where: Crimea Peninsula (in the Black Sea)

When: February, 1945

What:

• The conference focused on redrawing Europe’s political boundaries and restructuring nations after the war.

• They agreed on dividing Germany into 4 occupation zones to be managed by the Allies who were to achieve the 5 D’s.

• They secured Soviet commitment to join the war against Japan after Germany’s defeat.

Why imp: Set in motion the creation of the United Nations to foster future international collaboration. It starts the conflict between the U.S. and USSR, leading to the cold war.

5 D’s

divide, denazify, demilitarize, democratize, and deindustrialize

Potsdam Conference

Who: Stalin, Churchill → Attlee, and Roosevelt → Truman

Where: Potsdam, Germany

When: July-August, 1945

What:

• Stalin doesn’t allow free elections in Eastern Europe and the U.S. reveal they have been hiding atomic weapons.

• Addressed border changes, notably impacting Poland and other Central European countries.

• Laid out plans for prosecuting war criminals and initiating Europe’s broader reconstruction.

Why imp: It undoes progress made at the Yalta Conference. It finalized Germany’s occupation zones, it relocated millions of Germans, redrew European borders, and highlighted growing distrust between Western powers and the Soviet Union.

Federal Republic of Germany

U.S., France, and Britain get West Germany and West Berlin and create the Federal Republic of Germany.

German Democratic Republic

The Soviet Union gets East Germany and East Berlin and created the german Democratic Republic.

Nuremberg Trials

Who: Prosecuted German war criminals and those involved in the Holocaust

Where: Nuremberg, Germany

When: 1945-46

What: Prosecuted German war criminals and those involved in the Holocaust are executed or put in jail for war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, and conspiracy.

Why imp: 24 Nazi leaders are prosecuted. They held Nazi leaders accountable for crimes during World War II. They also established the principle that individuals, rather than just the state can be held responsible under international law.

United Nations

Who: 50 nations came together. The countries who have veto power are China, France, USSR, U.S., and Britain.

Where: Established in San Francisco

When: Established in 1945

What: International peace-keeping organization with the goal to solve international problems peacefully and prevent another world war from happening.

Why imp: Although it didn’t prevent the cold war, it gave countries like the U.S. and the Soviet Union a place to communicate and reduce tensions. It is still running today, and works to keep peace, provide aid, and address global issues like conflicts and climate change.

Marshall Plan

Who: Plan made by George Marshall

Where: Western Europe

When: 1947-1948

What: The U.S. gives money to help rebuild Europe after WWII. It gives $3.3 billion to Western Europe.

Why imp: Helped rebuild European economies after WWII and prevented economic collapse. It also limited the spread of communism by strengthening countries economically and politically.

Truman Doctrine

Who: U.S. and Europe

Where: Europe

When: 1947

What: The U.S. gives money to anyone against communism. Greece and Turkey get $400 million.

Why imp: Establishes the idea that the U.S. would support countries resisting communism. It marked the start of containment during the Cold War.

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

Who: The Soviet Union and Allies

Where: Berlin

When: 1948-1949

What: The Soviet Union blocks the Allies access to Berlin. Stalin hoped the Allies would give up Berlin. The U.S. decides to send in supplies with airplanes over the blockade and it was successful, supplying 2.5 million citizens. In May, 1949 Stalin ends the blockade without saying a word.

Why imp: Known as the first “fight” of the Cold War. It also shows that the U.S. would resist Soviet pressure without using direct military force to prevent another war, helping to contain communism.

Containment

Stopping the spread of communism.

Cold War

Who: Between the U.S. and Soviet Union

Where: Europe

When: 1945-1991

What: State of high tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union. They do not fight each other physically, only indirectly.

• Starts after WWII when Stalin does not allow occupied countries in Eastern Europe free elections.

• There is a lot of conflict when trying to split Germany.

• Goal: spread political and economic systems. Soviet Union = communism, the U.S. = capitalism.

Why imp: Affected world politics, wars, and governments for many years. It also led to new technology and space exploration while keeping tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.